[Article] How Canucks players learned to embrace a commitment to competitiveness

[RWJC]

How Canucks players learned to embrace a commitment to competitiveness

 

The buzzwords are constant and calculated, and have taken on new meaning.

 

In Rick Tocchet’s non-negotiable manual of how to manipulate a roster that had to be harder to play against, needed to hold on to pucks and make smarter decisions, and play as connected five-man units, the Vancouver Canucks head coach has used key phrases:

“Don’t duplicate mistakes. Protect the house.”

 

The difference is that the messenger has changed. It’s coming from within the locker-room.

 

That’s the total buy-in. When it results in consecutive victories over the high-octane Edmonton Oilers to start this NHL season, the pursuit of an elusive playoff position here seems more logical than laughable. That’s a step forward.

 

Tocchet knows a five-game road trip that continues in Philadelphia on Tuesday is full of landmines. He also knows his players are becoming better equipped to avoid explosions.

 

“It’s game management and continuing to build and knowing what the situation is, but we’re getting better and that’s the positive thing,” said Tocchet. “I don’t even have to make them accountable sometimes. Even before I go in there (locker room), I hear guys making themselves accountable and that’s what I like.

“It’s not always the coach’s voice, it’s the players’ voices.”

 

It’s a significant signpost.

 

Teams toss around franchise-defining words like “identity” and “culture” like a hot potato. They can get burned by the process if the goal is not genuine. This appears like the real deal because there’s a Canucks commitment and understanding on how every element is crucial.

 

“When you don’t skate (day off) and come back, it’s important that you don’t waste these practices away,” Tocchet said of the continuing teaching element. “Last year, I thought we gave them away.”

 

The diligence has paid off because the Canucks could have gone quietly into the night Saturday.

 

They were overwhelmed at the outset and outshot 8-1, and looked like they were going to get run out of the rink, but showed some moxie. Instead of questions, they had answers.

 

Once they drew even, they never relinquished the lead. They landed the final blow, killed off a 5-on-3 Oilers power play in the third period, and denied Connor McDavid the equalizer.

It required holding a vaunted Oilers power play to two goals on seven attempts, blocking 25 shots and winning board battles. It meant throwing 29 hits — a game-high eight came from J.T. Miller — and getting bottom-six mix goals from Nils Hoglander, Jack Studnicka and Sam Lafferty.

 

“He (Tocchet) came in and had to implement everything on the fly — which is hard — because you’re playing every other day,” said Miller. “We’ve had a lot of time to talk and think about what we want to do. It’s just the reps and habits and not just one-offs.

 

“We’ve been doing a good job of that.”

Saturday’s win also required a superlative performance from backup goaltender Casey DeSmith, who sprawled to rob the Oilers on several occasions and finished with 37 saves.

“For me, it’s contagious when a guy wins a board battle or blocks a shot,” stressed Tocchet. “If you have a large group of players doing the right thing — and if you’re that guy on the outside that does it once in a while — you’re dragging that guy in. If you only have six or seven, it’s harder to get that game back.”

 

For the head coach to get to this point after taking over the bench Jan. 22, it required frankness and focus. He saw a club lacking structure, systems and elite fitness. He chipped away at a mountain of concern with tough talk and encouragement. And that’s a slippery slope.

 

There are several examples of how Tocchet balanced his approach.

 

He knew a healthy and fit Brock Boeser had potential to get off the wall and get to the dirty areas, where he could find better shooting angles, set screens, pounce on rebounds and be more engaged without the puck.

 

Tocchet knew Studnicka could have played his way out of the league last spring if he wasn’t willing to put in the off-season work. And he knew Anthony Beauviller had to find his game after arriving here in the Bo Horvat trade.

 

Boeser has four goals and five points in two games. Studnicka scored Saturday and Beauvillier worked on a third alignment with Dakota Joshua and Pius Suter that was not a liability.

Tocchet challenged Joshua in the pre-season to “pick it up” because his fitness and game weren’t great. It worked. The winger has been more visible and physically engaged and had four heavy hits Saturday.

 

“He (Tocchet) set that tone last year and that accountability part is something that our team needs — and it’s great when it’s coming from the coach,” said Boeser. “He’s a guy you can go and talk to and he’s all ears and then there’s not a disconnect.”

 

At one point last spring, Tocchet said he wasn’t happy with Beauvillier’s game and was also quick to add that the winger probably wasn’t happy either as he struggled to grow into a new system.

 

“He definitely challenges guys every day and wants the best out of everyone,” acknowledged Beauvillier. “He expects a lot because he believes in us and the approach is great. He makes his message clear and you know exactly what he wants.

“I have a great relationship with him.”

 

bkuzma@postmedia.com

https://apple.news/AKhFB5cBUTnqtib1gkdipFg

 

 

 

[Rob Eh]

Tocchet will be a shoe in for a coach of the year nomination if the Canucks make the playoffs.

[Hammertime]

I'm fuckin stoked were 2-0 by the same token I want to see where we are at come x mas before I get excited theres a reason the oilers keep shitting the bed with the best player in the game. We game planned for them and it worked and thats a great sign. I don't think we win game 2 last year.  

[Drakrami]

... it's 2 games lol.. what's with the media. 

 

Feels more like an article that should come out when we are 25 games in and have a winning record, which shows we have improved from the past 3 seasons. 

[IBatch]

11 hours ago, Hammertime said:

I'm fuckin stoked were 2-0 by the same token I want to see where we are at come x mas before I get excited theres a reason the oilers keep shitting the bed with the best player in the game. We game planned for them and it worked and thats a great sign. I don't think we win game 2 last year.  

No way we win game 2 last year.   It's for sure encouraging.   Tochett might be a lot like Green.   But he's different where it matters too.   So far anyways.    We've got a better roster now.   Which is also encouraging. 

Edited October 16, 2023 by IBatch

[iceman1964]

13 hours ago, RWJC said:

How Canucks players learned to embrace a commitment to competitiveness

 

The buzzwords are constant and calculated, and have taken on new meaning.

 

In Rick Tocchet’s non-negotiable manual of how to manipulate a roster that had to be harder to play against, needed to hold on to pucks and make smarter decisions, and play as connected five-man units, the Vancouver Canucks head coach has used key phrases:

“Don’t duplicate mistakes. Protect the house.”

 

The difference is that the messenger has changed. It’s coming from within the locker-room.

 

That’s the total buy-in. When it results in consecutive victories over the high-octane Edmonton Oilers to start this NHL season, the pursuit of an elusive playoff position here seems more logical than laughable. That’s a step forward.

 

Tocchet knows a five-game road trip that continues in Philadelphia on Tuesday is full of landmines. He also knows his players are becoming better equipped to avoid explosions.

 

“It’s game management and continuing to build and knowing what the situation is, but we’re getting better and that’s the positive thing,” said Tocchet. “I don’t even have to make them accountable sometimes. Even before I go in there (locker room), I hear guys making themselves accountable and that’s what I like.

“It’s not always the coach’s voice, it’s the players’ voices.”

 

It’s a significant signpost.

 

Teams toss around franchise-defining words like “identity” and “culture” like a hot potato. They can get burned by the process if the goal is not genuine. This appears like the real deal because there’s a Canucks commitment and understanding on how every element is crucial.

 

“When you don’t skate (day off) and come back, it’s important that you don’t waste these practices away,” Tocchet said of the continuing teaching element. “Last year, I thought we gave them away.”

 

The diligence has paid off because the Canucks could have gone quietly into the night Saturday.

 

They were overwhelmed at the outset and outshot 8-1, and looked like they were going to get run out of the rink, but showed some moxie. Instead of questions, they had answers.

 

Once they drew even, they never relinquished the lead. They landed the final blow, killed off a 5-on-3 Oilers power play in the third period, and denied Connor McDavid the equalizer.

It required holding a vaunted Oilers power play to two goals on seven attempts, blocking 25 shots and winning board battles. It meant throwing 29 hits — a game-high eight came from J.T. Miller — and getting bottom-six mix goals from Nils Hoglander, Jack Studnicka and Sam Lafferty.

 

“He (Tocchet) came in and had to implement everything on the fly — which is hard — because you’re playing every other day,” said Miller. “We’ve had a lot of time to talk and think about what we want to do. It’s just the reps and habits and not just one-offs.

 

“We’ve been doing a good job of that.”

Saturday’s win also required a superlative performance from backup goaltender Casey DeSmith, who sprawled to rob the Oilers on several occasions and finished with 37 saves.

“For me, it’s contagious when a guy wins a board battle or blocks a shot,” stressed Tocchet. “If you have a large group of players doing the right thing — and if you’re that guy on the outside that does it once in a while — you’re dragging that guy in. If you only have six or seven, it’s harder to get that game back.”

 

For the head coach to get to this point after taking over the bench Jan. 22, it required frankness and focus. He saw a club lacking structure, systems and elite fitness. He chipped away at a mountain of concern with tough talk and encouragement. And that’s a slippery slope.

 

There are several examples of how Tocchet balanced his approach.

 

He knew a healthy and fit Brock Boeser had potential to get off the wall and get to the dirty areas, where he could find better shooting angles, set screens, pounce on rebounds and be more engaged without the puck.

 

Tocchet knew Studnicka could have played his way out of the league last spring if he wasn’t willing to put in the off-season work. And he knew Anthony Beauviller had to find his game after arriving here in the Bo Horvat trade.

 

Boeser has four goals and five points in two games. Studnicka scored Saturday and Beauvillier worked on a third alignment with Dakota Joshua and Pius Suter that was not a liability.

Tocchet challenged Joshua in the pre-season to “pick it up” because his fitness and game weren’t great. It worked. The winger has been more visible and physically engaged and had four heavy hits Saturday.

 

“He (Tocchet) set that tone last year and that accountability part is something that our team needs — and it’s great when it’s coming from the coach,” said Boeser. “He’s a guy you can go and talk to and he’s all ears and then there’s not a disconnect.”

 

At one point last spring, Tocchet said he wasn’t happy with Beauvillier’s game and was also quick to add that the winger probably wasn’t happy either as he struggled to grow into a new system.

 

“He definitely challenges guys every day and wants the best out of everyone,” acknowledged Beauvillier. “He expects a lot because he believes in us and the approach is great. He makes his message clear and you know exactly what he wants.

“I have a great relationship with him.”

 

bkuzma@postmedia.com

https://apple.news/AKhFB5cBUTnqtib1gkdipFg

 

 

 

Yeah it must tough being a millionaire and having to get motivated every game!!!!

Edited October 16, 2023 by iceman1964

[Analyst82]

So far Ive been happy with the commitment and dedication I saw from the players. The only thing with hard coaches is that at some point, if you push too hard, players will start to tune you out. 

[The Duke]

6 hours ago, IBatch said:

No way we win game 2 last year.   It's for sure encouraging.   Tochett might be a lot like Green.   But he's different where it matters too.   So far anyways.    We've got a better roster now.   Which is also encouraging. 

 

6 hours ago, Analyst82 said:

So far Ive been happy with the commitment and dedication I saw from the players. The only thing with hard coaches is that at some point, if you push too hard, players will start to tune you out. 

These comments go hand in hand for me.  Not only is Tocchet coming in and pushing the right buttons, but he seems 100% backed by both management AND the leadership group in the room.

 

It’s going to be hard for Tocc to walk the line between stopping this team from slipping back into bad habits while not turning into a nag.  But with the key pieces in the organization seemingly aligned at least he’s got some help.

[Analyst82]

4 hours ago, The Duke said:

 

These comments go hand in hand for me.  Not only is Tocchet coming in and pushing the right buttons, but he seems 100% backed by both management AND the leadership group in the room.

 

It’s going to be hard for Tocc to walk the line between stopping this team from slipping back into bad habits while not turning into a nag.  But with the key pieces in the organization seemingly aligned at least he’s got some help.

 

Bang on! I think our young players matured and we have a few older experienced players who know what it takes.